Vanderbilt Cup Races

Correction…. The mound that Frank pointed out could be the capped off landfill between Claremont St and Winding Rd, which is N/O the then Nassau County Brickworks. There’s also a recycling center E/O Winding Rd, just N/O of a Horse Stable. But I think this recycling center is a newer facility.

From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: A View of #54 Lancia Crashing at the Massapequa-Hicksville Road Turn in 1910

Good mystery, but I just wasn’t up for it.

Frank….the mound that’s NE could be the landfill that is now capped off W/O Claremont St, just S/O the tower line. Or maybe the then Nassau County Brickworks between Round Swamp Rd and Winding Rd, both locations in Old Bethpage.

From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: A View of #54 Lancia Crashing at the Massapequa-Hicksville Road Turn in 1910

There’s a Curved Dash Olds at the Suffolk County Historical Society Museum in Riverhead, but I’m not sure it’s the same one:

http://www.suffolkcountyhistoricalsociety.org/museum.html
__________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Daniel, here is a link to information on the 1905 Oldsmobile at the Suffolk County Historical Society.

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/can_you_identify_the_long_island_location_of_this_unrestored_1905_oldsmobil

From Helck Family Collection: Old 16 at the Opening of the Bridgehampton Race Circuit in 1957

Great job again Sam and Dave. The house with the posts (28 Lake Drive) was Bob DeStefani’s childhood home in 1937, built in 1928 and bought by his Uncle before Bob and family moved in. The LIMP closed one year after Bob moved in. He must know about those posts if he can be reached. They sure look like LIMP posts.
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/new_series_an_inside_look_of_the_petit_trianon_in_lake_ronkonkoma

Dave - Working on an overlay in the area but no aerials are available it seems. The aerial at the Stony Brook website is poor quality but may have to do. With the Petit Trianon in its right place, it’ll be easier to see what those stairs and the wrap around walls with corner adornments are all about. Also sending Howard a photo of the Petit with similar walls that you guys found.

Keep exploring!

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure IV: The Eastern Terminus of the Motor Parkway

Those posts are definitely affiliated with the LIMP, Dave & Sam. Their the “guardrail” type that was on both sides of the roadway. I’ve seen them in Queens and Nassau. The rectangular cut outs had 2” x 6” planks running thru them likely.j

I remember from past blogs regarding the Ronkonkoma lodge being relocated west and a bit north from it’s original location ( straddling the LIMP ). I agree, let Frank do his magic.

Did you guys notice that the land just N/O of the LIMP has a steady uprise just before Rosevale Ave? Don’t know if that’s a natural land formation, but I do know that there was to be a Parkway bridge over Rosevale Ave., but never built because of financial constraints.

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure IV: The Eastern Terminus of the Motor Parkway

This is about the crash of William Knipper with mechanician August Disher in their Lancia during the 1910 Massapequa Sweepstakes on October 1, 1910. For seven laps he was far in the lead driving well over 1 mile a minute, when “he met his Waterloo”. As reported further in Motor Age of October 6: “He swung into the Massepequa lodge turn at a terrific clip, failed to hold it, and went into the sand pile that was the graveyard of so may hopes. This accident stopped the car.” Apparently neither driver nor mechanician were seriously hurt. The race was won by Endicott in a Cole.

From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: A View of #54 Lancia Crashing at the Massapequa-Hicksville Road Turn in 1910

I should have taken more pictures. Those steps really lead right to the lake. It seems certain that was from the petit.

I’m thinking the concrete wall was a driveway wall of sorts leading up to the petit. The wall pretty much continues from that little house to the point where it makes the turn, I’m guessing that was the official runway/driveway wall leading up to the petit. All of the old estates have entries like this. Maybe someone has some old pics?

I realize that house I took the pic of is not old, but the posts in there have to be LIMP related.

One question going back to ronkonkoma lodge pic, it is evident from the old picture the lodge was right on the LIMP. Today the lodge is at least 100 feet away. I’m wondering if the original LIMP was buried? Could the lodge have been moved? This is a question right up Franks alley. Topographical King Frank!

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure IV: The Eastern Terminus of the Motor Parkway

Old Number 16 was brought to the first FIVA Rally held in the States, Jerry brought the car to a gathering in Lenox Mass. It was great to see it in action, Jerry gave a ride to Bunty Scott Moncrieff who was my guest from the U.K. I think the year was 1983…

From Helck Family Collection: Old 16 at the Opening of the Bridgehampton Race Circuit in 1957

So interesting….Thanks for sharing your effort & discoveries !

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure IV: The Eastern Terminus of the Motor Parkway

Congrats Howard. Looking forward to seeing the Tucker and you sometime soon.

Best regards,
David

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale

Sorry i just saw the trunk pictures great shots as my friend wont have to take the photos.

From Images of the Tucker 1044

biggest lower control arm bushing i ever seen! and held together with bolts that are of the allen type. it looks like the two big end ones have a adjustable setting for proper alignment of the front end.  strong as a TANK!

From Images of the Tucker 1044

And Yes Huge a two Cords were also sold at the auction and they had the same gear shifter as the Tucker as i remember and took some pictures of it.

From Images of the Tucker 1044

this is the first time i have ever seen the tucker photograghed from a view on a lift and also the interior.  i just came from the Russo Steele auction in scottsdale az and they had cars from the missoula museum of montana go up for sale many cheap. a 1941 red Lincol Continental Zepher 2 dr coupe with a flathead v12 was sold cheap in the 20 g range. it was completely restored and so clean you could eat off it. i thought Huge would like to know. too bad i moved out to az as i would be at the waterfront in roslyn tommorow if i could.  i have a friend who goes to rosyln often and i will tell him about the tucker on display.I would like to see the front trunk and if possible the front turning headlight assembly mechanism and hope my friend can get photos.  Is there a workshop manual available just in case i buy one and have to work on it? i am sure any mechanic will need one if called to work on it. thanks for the info. greatest tucker pictures ever seen!

From Images of the Tucker 1044

my theory on the hose with the cement posts-could it be a tollhouse where the toll keeper worked or lived?

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure IV: The Eastern Terminus of the Motor Parkway

When I was fifteen, my dad took me to the new Tucker dealer in Avon, Massachusetts, just south of Boston.  We saw the car, which had just come in that week, and of course I started pleading with Dad to order one!  Unfortunately, it was not to be.  All I have to remind me of that day is a Tucker brochure.  Does anyone know what it might be worth?  There’s no point in my keeping it any longer.
_________________________________________
Howard Kroplick

David, I believe they go for $250 to $500 on EBay.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale

Not feeling too confident with my guess, but I’ll go with this was taken from on top of the Massapequa-Hicksville Road Bridge looking at the Massapequa turn just after the Massapequa lodge. Massapequa Sweepstakes Oct 1 1910

From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: A View of #54 Lancia Crashing at the Massapequa-Hicksville Road Turn in 1910

I can’t find an early pic I took of the steps but they were quite visible/accessible ca. 1980-90.  Great work -as always, Dave and Sam!  Sam, III

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure IV: The Eastern Terminus of the Motor Parkway

Impossible without the hint but this could be the Oct 1, 1910 Massapequa Sweepstakes-6 car race with Bill Knipper driving the #54 Lancia, and after overshooting the Massapequa Turn, struck a telephone pole fracturing his leg. A spectator also suffered a fractured leg. If true that would make the highway bridge in the photo the Massapequa/Hicksville Rd bridge (Rt 107) in Bethpage. Photo would be looking NW. The Massapequa Lodge should be in view here, about 3 blocks down on the right side of the road, but I don’t see it. 
In the larger panoramic photo on the right side in the distance appears the shape of Mount Corona ash dump (future site of ’39 Worlds Fair and later Flushing Meadow Park). That would be a whopping 18mi away, and the mound I think should be on the left side of photo. Any clues what it is? It’s definitely not a LIMP bridge. Thank you Chuck for a challenging mystery.

From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: A View of #54 Lancia Crashing at the Massapequa-Hicksville Road Turn in 1910

From Ricard K:
I simply had to respond to your Newsletter!  As a fellow member of the Peconic Car Club. And having watched you give kids an opportunity to sit in the Black Beast, so often at the Hallockville car show! I had to say how much i enjoy, what you do to promote not only old cars, but also the Long Island Motor Parkway!  I was born and raised in Farmingdale!  And all my life I have had encounters with the few remains of the Motor parkway!  Unfortunately many traces have been
lost over the years!  I worked for the Town of Oyster Bay, Both in the Engineering dept. and the Building Dept. And this gave me so many chances to catch glimpses of the Parkway. During my years with Oyster Bay!  Sadly far too many people have lost the significance of what Mr Vanderbilt gave to Long Island , over his years of FUNDING, that wonderful roadway!  (Speedway)

I am now 75 years old, And please let me say how much I admire your wonderful efforts to give that information to The current generations of people, who are not aware of your messages here!  We now live on Shelter island (in the Summer months) and Florida (on an airpark in the winter). And as an owner of a 1946 Ford pick up truck and a 1956 Ford Crown Victoria, I also am a old car collector.  I have visions of someday acquiring an old Midget racer, to team up on a trailer, with the 46 pick-up!  My Father loved midget racers!  AND I have such wonderfull memories of watching and Smelling castor oil , Dirt etc. At Freeport race track and Islip race track as a kid!  Sadly the kids today will never know the glory of experiencing those thrills as I did! 

I must congatulate you on what you do!  Please keep up all the fantastic efforts, that you do, in keeping Long islands history alive, for people to enjoy!

And thank you for your wonderful newsletter!

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale